The Creator

After seeing this one, I’m convinced we need to start taking artificial intelligence even more seriously than we are now, just maybe in a “let’s play nice together” sort of way rather than the usual “let’s destroy each other” rhetoric.

Set in a near future where AI has struck first in its war against humanity, The Creator follows Sergeant Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) as he embarks on a mission to stifle “Nirmata,” or the architect responsible for AI’s incredibly fast advancement as a new kind of life form, and its potential plans for worldwide domination. Rumored to have developed a new weapon of mass destruction dubbed “Alpha 0,” Joshua is told that by sticking it to Nirmata, the humans of the world will be able to even the odds against the emergent threat that is AI and even fight back with fire and brimstone by using their ultimate orbital strike weapon dubbed NOMAD. Completing his assignment in relatively short order, Joshua soon realizes that Alpha 0 is something, or rather, someone far more different than he expected, forcing him to choose between finishing his mission of saving humanity or helping AI beings like “Alphie” from complete and total extinction.

Full of parallels to current-day prejudices, the continued worry surrounding the development of true artificial intelligence, and exploring the idea of what’s right and wrong in a future world that’s just as divided as ever, The Creator takes an intriguing and realistic sci-fi concept and runs far enough with it to make this one a solid and slightly above average watch. Scripted and shot with care for the material while wrapping the proceedings in stellar production values and a Hollywood sheen usually reserved for the biggest of blockbusters, this film certainly looks the part, with just enough world-building going on to make this fictional universe feel lived in and real.

But not all things are created equal. For as good as the film’s direction, original premise, and beautifully rendered special effects are, the final cut still feels a bit oddly paced and flawed at times. Whether because I’m still not sold on John David Washington as a dramatic actor (his comedic timing is great, however), felt that the script needed a bit more development in certain places, or felt that the overall film was lacking substance at times (especially where some of the character work is concerned), The Creator kept me engaged throughout despite it never really rising to the level of something that truly wowed me — the handful of exciting set pieces notwithstanding.

Regardless of some of its shortcomings, this one is still a unique and entertaining film that brings up some interesting ideas about artificial intelligence, what our future could look like should it turn to the dark side, and what happens when both humanity and AI are forced to come to terms coexisting with one another. And while I’m glad a movie like The Creator was able to get made, especially with the quality filmmaking the studio threw behind it, something is missing from it that’s hard to pin down at times, nevertheless affecting the film in a way that can only be described as somewhat underwhelming.